Nostromo - A Tale of the Seaboard.pdf - Planet eBook

story that will never grow old. That is why Charles Gould inhis deep, dumb way has countenanced the Ribierist Mandate,the first public act that promised him safety on otherthan venal grounds. Ribierism has failed, as everythingmerely rational fails in this country. But Gould remainslogical in wishing to save this big lot of silver. Decoud’splan of a counter-revolution may be practicable or not, itmay have a chance, or it may not have a chance. With allmy experience of this revolutionary continent, I can hardlyyet look at their methods seriously. Decoud has been readingto us his draft of a proclamation, and talking very wellfor two hours about his plan of action. He had argumentswhich should have appeared solid enough if we, membersof old, stable political and national organizations, were notstartled by the mere idea of a new State evolved like this outof the head of a scoffing young man fleeing for his life, witha proclamation in his pocket, to a rough, jeering, half-bredswashbuckler, who in this part of the world is called a general.It sounds like a comic fairy tale—and behold, it maycome off; because it is true to the very spirit of the country.’‘Is the silver gone off, then?’ asked the doctor, moodily.The chief engineer pulled out his watch. ‘By CaptainMitchell’s reckoning—and he ought to know—it has beengone long enough now to be some three or four miles outsidethe harbour; and, as Mitchell says, Nostromo is the sortof seaman to make the best of his opportunities.’ Here thedoctor grunted so heavily that the other changed his tone.‘You have a poor opinion of that move, doctor? But why?Charles Gould has got to play his game out, though he is not